Game 2013.27: Tigers at Astros

The Tigers travel to Houston to take on the newly-American-League Astros, who have so far been welcomed into the AL to the tune of a league-worst 8-20 record.

The probable pitchers for the series are:

May 2 8:10 Porcello vs. Lyles

May 3 8:10 Fister vs. Norris

May 4 7:10 Scherzer vs. Harrell

May 5 4:10 Verlander vs. Humber

If there is any good news for the beleaguered Astros it’s that they get to start out the series with Porcello, the one Tiger pitcher who is not putting up huge strikeout numbers. Houston has struck out a MLB-leading 276 times; the K-stros hitters meeting the Tiger pitchers should make for a perfect storm of strikeouts this weekend.

*****

Not surprisingly, Bruce Rondon was returned to Toledo, just in time to be fitted for his Chewbacca uniform, as the Mud Hens honor Star Wars Weekend. Why did no one tell me about this? It is far too late to get a decent costume now. Anyway Mud Hen players will hope that the increased attention the uniforms will give them will help in their Wookie-of-the-Year bids.

OK, I can’t help it, had to look up a picture of the things. Words fail me.

*****

Today’s Player of the Pre-game: Jose Valverde. Finally another save situation arrives, and Valverde comes out especially animated against his former team.

68 Comments

Vince in MN

May 2, 2013 at 5:04 pm

Don’t sell the Astros hitters short. They are middle of the pack, but have more XBH than the Tigers, with only 12 runs scored fewer. Their pitching has been atrocious – 30th in ERA (by quite a bit) at 5.42. One should keep in mind how the Tigers have done in the past against this sort of talent however.

Coleman

May 2, 2013 at 5:20 pm

Yes, proceed with caution. On the other hand: bring back the Braves!

PHToy in HK

May 2, 2013 at 10:15 pm

Nice call regarding the XBHs.

Smoking Loon

May 2, 2013 at 7:32 pm

From mlb.com:

• Houston is 5-13 against right-handed starters this season, but just 3-6 against southpaws.

Interesting. Detroit is 5-7 on the road this season, but just 10-4 at home.

Kevin in Dallas

May 2, 2013 at 8:31 pm

+1

Smoking Loon

May 2, 2013 at 7:41 pm

The Astros put up 38 runs in 6 games against the Mariners, and they beat Iwakuma.

Judpma

May 2, 2013 at 8:16 pm

Pitcher making his Major League debut against the Tigers automatic name change to CY…….happens every time!

Judpma

May 2, 2013 at 8:22 pm

Lead off guy doubles and Mario says ….This is the Astros first scoring opportunity of the night!……..thanks Mario

Coleman

May 2, 2013 at 8:40 pm

Ok, all I can say is…it figures.

Judpma

May 2, 2013 at 8:51 pm

Avila got that 3rd RBI against the Twins….he is good for another month of starts now!

I apologize in advance if I cost us the game. I was sitting in my “lucky” spot on the couch since the 8th inning (when we tied it), but waited in agony in that spot instead of urinating as I was convinced the Tigers would lose if I moved off the spot. I finally gave in to Mother Nature in the bottom of the 13th. So there is that if the Tigers go on to lose……..

Coleman

May 3, 2013 at 12:36 am

Professional hitting by Torii Hunter. Thank you.

Judpma

May 3, 2013 at 12:44 am

Hunter does that on his own….Mumbles mumbled the whole time that is was stupid to do!!!!

Coleman

May 3, 2013 at 12:38 am

Wow, the old double-intentional to get to the Donkey. I say DK knocks in the go-ahead here.

Coleman

May 3, 2013 at 12:38 am

If not, I blame Jerry the Tiger Fan.

Judpma

May 3, 2013 at 12:43 am

good call….where u been!

Jerry The Tiger Fan

May 3, 2013 at 12:40 am

Wouldn’t mind the squeeze play with Austin Jackson on third here………Lord knows the Tigers struggle mightily at hitting the routine SAC fly.

Coleman

May 3, 2013 at 12:41 am

The Donkey got you off the hook for your bathroom break.

Jerry The Tiger Fan

May 3, 2013 at 12:43 am

Yes he did. I don’t want to jinx it though, we still need three more outs before we can say Donkey bailed me out for sure.

Coleman

May 3, 2013 at 12:46 am

Tui may just have taken care of it for you. Of course, now you’re just gonna think you can go to the bathroom any old time you want.

Jerry The Tiger Fan

May 3, 2013 at 1:03 am

I know right?? This might just embolden me to use the restroom during actual games that are close. Heresy!

Judpma

May 3, 2013 at 12:42 am

Donkey….HAVE A DAY!…….atta boy!

Jerry The Tiger Fan

May 3, 2013 at 12:42 am

As a certain hated broadcaster would say “don’t stop now boys”. Way to go Donny Kelly. A clutch knock, but I’d feel a whole lot better if we tack another run or two on in this frame.

Well…..I think we’ve found a winning formula for extra inning games. Just muddle through those pesky 10,11th,12th, and 13th innings and we’re home free! It worked in Seattle and Houston.

Coleman

May 3, 2013 at 1:05 am

You just do NOT want to mess with these guys in the 14th!

Judpma

May 3, 2013 at 1:10 am

Wings WIN!

Coleman

May 3, 2013 at 1:15 am

In 14 innings!

The Strategy Expert

May 3, 2013 at 1:16 am

The day of the Great Donkey Gust.

Jeff Molby

May 3, 2013 at 2:57 am

For those that were upset about how Rondon was thrown right into a close game, why was it ok for Ortega to be thrown right into a close game?

Jerry The Tiger Fan

May 3, 2013 at 8:48 am

It was ok for Ortega because he didn’t struggle ALL of spring training in addition to blowing it in his first appearance ala Rondon. Rondon had already shown MULTIPLE times that he can’t hack it YET at this level. That is why it wasn’t OK to insert Ronson on Wednesday vs the Twins.

Jeff Molby

May 3, 2013 at 12:02 pm

Was Ortega even at spring training? I’ll give ya a dollar if you can tell me
what his spring training ERA was plus or minus half a run without looking it up.

I was referring to Rondon’s first appearance, against the Royals, but I see now that Ortega pitched his debut two days ago, so it’s not a perfect comparison. Regardless, I stand by my assertion that he was at least as unproven as Rondon and the only reason nobody is complaining about how Ortega was used is because things happened to work out.

Kevin in Dallas

May 3, 2013 at 3:03 pm

I think there’s a lot more pressure on Rondon then on Ortega. Ortega hasn’t been anointed anything, yet.

Smoking Loon

May 5, 2013 at 1:51 am

“the only reason nobody is complaining about how Ortega was used is because things happened to work out.”

Jeff has it absolutely right.

StorminNorman$

May 3, 2013 at 12:33 pm

i was at the game in HOU last night, but bowed out in the 7th (school/work night), which turned out to be a wise choice considering the 7th proved to be half-time.

HOU has some decent arms and some young offensive talent, but with that said, DET should not settle for anything less than winning ‘at least’ 3 if they can’t sweep. May’s schedule presents an opportunity to put up 17-20 wins (28 games in May) – 7 against the Stros, and 11 against CLE, MN & PIT.

Raburn stat of the day: in ’12 Raburn managed just 35 hits in his 205 AB’s, this year in 55 AB’s he has 20 hits…go figure

Kevin in Dallas

May 3, 2013 at 3:04 pm

He still may not get to 35.

Jim Eggers USMC Rifle Expert1971

May 3, 2013 at 4:12 pm

Kept thinking the Astros bullpen coach looked familiar, so looked him up… it is Dennis Martinez! Is that the best job for a man with his kind of talent? I mean if Doug Brocail is the pitching coach, who is the better example of excellent pitching?

Coleman

May 3, 2013 at 5:11 pm

There’s a name from the past! He always seemed like he was on his way to the Hall. He fell off the radar a bit when he ended up in Montreal. Come to think of it, if Jack Morris deserves consideration, so does D-Mart.

Latest Comments

Coleman http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=12413132&categoryid=2521705
On the other hand, Verlander is "confident" and "ready to go," so there's that.

Smoking Loon Good article, Kevin.
Did anyone else have the thought last year that perhaps the biggest problem with Verlander was... predictability? He

Kevin in Dallas Neither does this story.
http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ssf/2015/02/detroit_tigers_bring_back_righ_1.html

Kevin in Dallas This picture does not instill a whole bunch of confidence.
http://www.mlive.com/tigers/#/0

Coleman Check out this one: http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ssf/2015/02/report_relief_pitcher_joba_cha.html#incart_more_sports
He shaved the beard! And looks like he dropped a few pounds too.

StorminNorman$ http://m.tigers.mlb.com/news/article/110232762/joba-chamberlain-signs-with-detroit-tigers
low price, potential high yield... or maybe not. Whatever the case, Joba certainly said all the right things.

Jim EggersUSMC I concur K in D, am hoping for a good but not great season from JV. Seemed to me he

StorminNorman$ Great info/research Kevin! One point to clarify and factor into the analysis: JV did make $20M last year, but

Coleman Verlander had core muscle surgery last January. Could it be, at his age, and with the type of pitcher he

Jim EggersUSMC I am sorry to hear that, was looking forward to your blunt and accurate reports... as far as next year